Many people worry when they realize that it is raining on the day of their flight. They assume that the rain will delay or even cancel their flight. But does rain cancel flights? Rain itself will rarely even delay a flight, let alone cancel it. While the weather is a key factor regarding when or if a flight gets canceled, rainy weather is typically not a factor. Our experts at Sheffield School of Aeronautics, a premier flight dispatcher school, are here to give you the rundown on whether you should be worried about your flight being canceled or delayed due to rain. We offer online flight dispatcher courses, FAA and ICAO-sponsored training, and much more. Keep reading to find out more.
Does Rain Delay Flights?
While rain has a very slim chance of canceling a flight, there can be a minor chance that rain will delay it. Rain is just water, no matter the pressure. Modern aircraft can generate lift regardless of the heaviness of the rain. Planes can and will take off and land in the rain. The only real problem with heavy rainfall is the decrease in visibility for the pilots.
But does rain delay flights? Rain is a preface for secondary weather factors, and usually, there will be extra eyes out when it rains. This is done just in case the rain turns into something else more detrimental.
Generally, it is the temperature of the rain that can affect take-off and landing. That is, if it is so cold that the rain turns into hail or snow, there could be a delayed or canceled flight. Airlines try not to cancel or delay flights as much as possible. This is because even one small change in their schedule can make a huge impact on other flights and airports.
What Type of Weather Delays a Flight?
The type of weather that delays and cancels flights is called inclement weather. Inclement weather is categorized as thunderstorms, snowstorms, wind shear, icing, and fog. Any inclement weather is by far the most hazardous. This is the type of weather that causes the most cancellations and delays, not just rain. Though there would not be a cancellation simply for rain, if there are thunderstorms, this would be cause for cancellation. Thunder is when things can be more dangerous or start to become tricky.
There are various steps that airlines will go through to determine whether they think there is inclement weather and whether a flight should be delayed or canceled due to it. There are air traffic control centers and airport towers whose main jobs are to gather all the intricate weather information needed hours in advance to predict routes that might be blocked by bad weather. It is safe to say that you are in good hands when an executive decision is made regarding whether or not to cancel a flight due to weather.
More About Sheffield School of Aeronautics
Do flights get delayed for rain? As you have read, this generally isn’t the case. If you want to learn more about flights, Sheffield School of Aeronautics is an experienced flight dispatcher school. We are here to ensure that our students receive the best training possible for their careers. We teach many things about flying beyond whether rain can delay flights. Our classrooms and professors are some of the most cutting-edge available. This translates to our airline dispatcher school being able to ensure that you can accomplish the aeronautics career that you desire. Contact us today to learn more about international flight planning, flight dispatch courses, or becoming an FAA dispatcher.
